Christmas with the Kranks

On the eve of holiday season, Luther Krank and his wife Nora decide to skip Christmas after their daughter Blair leaves home for good. They hatch a plan to celebrate an island cruise instead and delete rituals that define their street. The idea shocked their neighbors and unsettled the town, who equate Christmas with mandatory lights, carols, and gatherings. The Kranks defend their choice as a simple act of self care and financial prudence. Yet as the calendar dwindles and their approvals falter, the pressure mounts. When Blair calls to say she’ll return with her fiancé for a Christmas Eve surprise, the couple realize they must improvise a communal miracle in twelve hours to salvage the holiday for everyone fully.

Directed by Joe Roth, Christmas with the Kranks adapts John Grisham's novella Skipping Christmas with a screenplay that keeps the family tone intact. Tim Allen stars as Luther Krank and Jamie Lee Curtis as Nora, supported by Dan Aykroyd here.

Box office details are not provided in the material, but the film targeted a broad holiday audience and performed steadily in its release window. It features a familiar ensemble led by Tim Allen, Jamie Lee Curtis and Dan Aykroyd throughout.

Humor arises from a clash between festive pressure and stubborn independence, turning the block into a comedic battleground. Vic Frohmeyer and the Scheels anchor the neighborhood's chaos, while Christmas rituals get lampooned yet ultimately reaffirmed through community bonds, neighborly goodwill, and a last minute rescue of traditions that unify neighbors.

Critical response to the film was mixed, with critics noting the light touch and family warmth but describing it as routine holiday fare. The central themes emphasize choosing togetherness over consumerism, the tension between self interest and communal obligation, and the value of neighbors despite chaos in every small town.